Watch this world with DEI (Department of Emotional Integrity)
This cool crew of artistic Asian dudes (starting with Phil Wang, Wes Chan and Ted Fu) and babes have created a slew of shorts, skits and vlogs that millions of faithful viewers, including yours truly, have enjoyed ~ especially for me, the ones about exercise:
Pope Francis offers his take* on how home influences our faith [my commentary in brackets]:
“Faith opens a ‘window’ to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures.
‘Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded,’ Jesus says (Mark 9:41).
“These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by brothers and sisters. They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion.
“Like the warm supper we look forward to at night [my mom‘s homecooking], the early meal awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work [my dad‘s coffee].
“Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs that make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life and life to grow in faith.”
*Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul, pp. 22-23 ~ as said at the Closing Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, September 27, 2015.
^– I actually used this passage as my pre-brunch prayer of grace with my parents today! –^
Bearing in mind these homely gestures, let’s also consider our cultures and upbringings…
Have you ever wondered why your parents act the way they do then realize that you’re turning out more like them as you grow up?
To stay in the spirit for this season, I decked out with a little bit of my autumn aesthetics ~ ringing in the old with the new!
My little splurge to bring me cheer this time of year: this rad-in-plaid deer because plaid is on-trend (this one somewhat resembles Burberry) + it’s deer season (not that I’m a hunter) & reindeer season‘s just around the corner ~ so I’ll adorn it with special ornaments! Just to add to my eccentricity, I named this bad boy DOC to keep me motivated as I keep trucking along (more in high-speed) toward my doctoral degree! Along with Doc are A&A‘s *Dallas Cowboys* TD toy for football season & my classic Halloween decor ~ including Badtz-Maru pillow ~ on this plaid spread that accompanies autumn yet also is appropriate for winter as we approach CHRIS†mas in red & green!
What’s the best fall memory you have? ~ football games, both when I was in h.s. & when I’d see my *Dallas Cowboys* live (everything’s BIGGER in TX)
What’s your favorite book you’re reading (or have read) this fall?~ Guts Grace & Glory (football devotionals) that I received during Lent & am reading through football season
Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?~ both (winged liner above in Exhibit B)
Best fragrance for fall? ~ Bath & Body WorksSweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (above in Exhibit A)
What is autumn weather like where you live? ~ we’re still as ☼sunny☼ as Indian summer but anticipate a cool-down soon
Football games or jumping in leaf piles? ~ BOTH! (see No. 1 for football & Exhibit B for leaf piles)
Skinny jeans or leggings? ~ either or, as long as I don’t have a muffin top in the denim or camel toe in the tights
What is something that nobody knows about you? ~ I don’t mind digging into Ramen even if there’s other food in the panty (especially as comfort food now that we’re entering a colder climate), which I actually ate for lunch this afternoon while watching Wong Fu‘s majorcook-off!
Combat boots or Uggs? ~ bringing on my Docs, baby!
What song really gets you into the fall spirit? ~ oddly enough, ♫Taylor Swift‘s ♪Wildest Dreams♪ because it could describe any desire (i.e., “tall” could be a tall order of StarbucksSalted Caramel Mocha), fulfilled or fantasized about
This was from Working Out Gets Girls* one of Rick’s Man Tutorials, starring Philip Wang of Wong Fu Productions. Ok, so I wouldn’t go that far (unless they were a stretchy pair of jeggings that feel like yoga pants without showing camel toe). Actually, the only times when I’d wear jeans to the gym were when I worked at my local gym a decade ago.
Well, the weekend before last, I hit the track with my folks for the first time in a long while after Church.
Stroll Selfie: Mommy Aya & Me
Stroll Selfie: Papa Jun & Me
My mom told me that I wasn’t dressed up appropriately.
Exercise in comfort and style ~ putting this to good use @ Walk to End Alzheimers [2013] {running skirt/shorts combo from C9 by Champion}
I’d recommend these pieces when you’re on-the-go: walking while doing errands, but definitely not these open-toed shoes while you’re doing higher-impact or more strenuous exercise: running, tumbling, lifting weights, etc.
An outfit that I work out in actually offers resistance as I move!
Flexing after the Fiesta 5K [2012] {Hot pink top & black capris from the ReebokEasyTone line}
When I went to the park to walk with my parents again last week, my mom didn’t mention anything wrong with my choice of apparel anymore!
Stroll Selfie: Parentals in Shades & Yours Truly
Today, I look forward to going to the base gym (which, in my opinion, has the most top-of-the-line amenities compared to the rest of our citywide health clubs) with Evie! Enjoy your summer training sessions with a workout buddy to have fun, whether on the run or in the sun☼
While I ✨concentrate, I still play background 👂🏽noise, but I don’t always rely on my online📻 🎧music or 🎬videos. Sometimes I also stray away from my own played-out 💽collection…
My DVDs🎥 and digital videos📹 to the rescue! 👌🏽
During my study sessions📚 or school road 🚘trips or any foreseeable 🚀flights, I’d prefer to play a movie straight from my phone without needing an online signal, like some video application programs promise.
Cons: load delays or no-plays from some computer browsers (I have 🌎Internet🌎 🌏Explorer, Mozilla🔥 🐺Firefox, Google Chrome, 🍎Apple🍏 Safari) and phone☎️ app 😁
Pros: always plays = 😅happy camper⛺️ (hey, maybe I even can watch while camping without wireless connection!)
Cons: none whatsoever … Sharp, beautiful motion pictures on the screen every single time ~ no loading shown! 👏🏽
After several attempts for the first two apps, I’m still not satisfied with them. Fortunately, Amazon‘s app has consistently come to not disappoint! 👊🏽
When my Tito’s daughter/my oldest cousin, Melissa, got married (exactly 12 years and two months ago today and exactly two weeks after I graduated from McMurry), I spent the ☼morning☼ of her nuptials running in the Maryland rain!
Wayback Wednesday: I can’t believe that back then, I thought that ruching made me look fat ~ it looks fab! #PrettyInPink
Those were the days when I didn’t have to ~ as Milli Vanilli (whose ½ of the duo would’ve turned the BiG 5-0 almost three weeks ago) would ♪sing♪ (or lip-sync) ~ ♫Blame It On the Rain♫ … BEFORE my crazy cold after I chilled on the chili Corpus Christi beach during my business trip.
Even though I myself am NOT a bride, that isn’t stopping me from wanting to stay in shape during wedding season, and most of all, when I defend my dissertation and graduate this fall. Check out my fave fit babes‘ workouts to get wedding-ready for those of you who are about to walk down the aisle or have another important upcoming event:
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →